10 Perfect Rock Singles Of The 90s
6. Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) - Green Day (1997)
Green Day was one of the first underground punk acts to break into mainstream during the '90s. Signing to a major label brought these guys accusations of selling out, but they only went from strength to strength.
They released a plethora of singles, during the '90s, that served to suit every mood an adolescent might be going through. Suffering from oppressive anxiety as you try to form an identity? Basket Case is the track for you. Trying to wrap your head around a dysfunctional relationship? When I Come Around. Feeling sufficiently hard done by by just about everything in your life? Nice Guys Finish Last. Green Day had you covered... But when you wanted to nostalgically reflect about your past - while listlessly staring out of a window - then, Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life), was where you turned.
The lyrics might have been inspired by a break up, but there's enough ambiguity, to make them universally applicable to most situations. The surging strings will assure you that you're in a movie scene, and by the time the song's over, you'll be worrying about your life that little bit less.